Mother’s Day in Church

[This post is excerpted and edited from a previously published post.] Celebrating earthly motherhood in worship is problematic on many levels. But lifting up the maternal qualities of God is, it seems to me, a valuable way to observe the holiday. After all, the earliest roots of Mother’s Day can be found in Greek and Roman celebrations…

Call to Worship for Wilderness Wanderings

*I wrote this Call to accompany Exodus 13:17-22; it would work well with any scriptures that mention the pillar of cloud by day and fire by night. Leader: God makes the Divine presence knownSide 1: in cloud and fire,Side 2: in song and scripture.Leader: The Holy Presence leadsSide 1: through wilderness landscapes,Side 2: through times…

A Blessing for Your Path

As some of you already know, my path is taking quite a turn. I will conclude my nearly 18-year ministry with Peace Mennonite in Lawrence, KS, on June 10 and begin as co-pastor of Bethel College Mennonite Church in North Newton, KS, on August 11. I am sad to leave the beloved community at Peace…

A Prayer for Easter Morning

Holy One,We, like the women at the tomb, have borne witness to death in many forms.We have encountered violence.We have carried grief.We have resigned ourselves.And so, even though we have heard this story many times,it is nowas alwaysunexpected–That there would be no stone to roll away,no death shroud to unwrap,no body to receive the carefully…

An Easter Blessing

Our Easter celebrations tend toward glaring and loud:trumpets and choirs and big, gaudy lilies,baskets full of too-sweet candy and bright, glaring colors.That is all good—for what it’s worth. I wish you glorious musicand fragrant flowers;plenty of chocolate—the good stuff,and all the luminous beauty of the rainbow. That is my wish,for you.But this blessing is different.…